g Kong dollars (HK$) per US$--7.74 (1997-99),
7.730 (1996), 7.800 (1995), 7.800 (1994); note--linked to the US
dollar at the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$

Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March

Communications

Telephones: 4.47 million (1998)

Telephone system: modern facilities provide excellent domestic
and international services
domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic
network
international: satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean
and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; access to 5
international submarine cables providing connections to ASEAN member
nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe

Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 6, shortwave 0

Radios: 3 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 4 (in addition, there are two
repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 1.75 million (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 34 km
standard gauge: 34 km 1.435-m gauge (all electrified) (1996 est.)

Highways:
total: 1,831 km
paved: 1,831 km
unpaved: 0 km (1997)

Ports and harbors: Hong Kong

Merchant marine:
total: 195 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,075,304
GRT/10,133,186 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 117, cargo 18, chemical tanker
2, combination bulk 2, container 40, liquefied gas tanker 1,
multifunction large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 6, refrigerated cargo
1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 3
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 13
countries among which are UK 16, South Africa 3, China 9, Japan 6,
Bermuda 2, Germany 3, Canada 2, Cyprus 1, Belgium 1, and Norway 1
(1998 est.)

Airports: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Hong Kong garrison of the PLA including
elements of the PLA Army, the PLA Navy and PLA Air Force; these
forces are under the direct leadership of the Central Military
Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the
adjacent Guangzhou Military Region

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,924,304 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,452,110 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annua